Method and apparatus for handling cards

• US 7,311,263 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2004
• Issued: 12/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bowe Systec Gmbh (L. Possehl & Co. mit beschränkter Haftung)
• Original Assignee: Boewe Systec AG
• Inventors: Eichler, Rudolf, Delles, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THIEN MINH
• Application Number:
  US11/004,144
• Publication Number:
  US 20050082363A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,117 Days
• Field of Search: 235/492, 235/493, 235/486, 235/487, 235/380, 235/382, 235/382.5, 198/447, 198/434, 229/92.8, 229/92.1
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0003 Automatic card files incorporating selecting, conveying and possibly reading and/or writing operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/005 the record carrier comprising an arrangement to facilitate insertion into a holding device, e.g. an arrangement that makes the record carrier fit into an etui or a casing ticket holders A45C11/18

Abstract

In an apparatus and a method for handling cards, wherein the cards comprise a memory element that may be read out in a contactless manner via a transponder, and pass through a plurality of handling stations, a card and a card carrier are initially brought together and joined. Subsequently, the card carrier is enveloped. Then a reading operation with regard to the card carrier which has been enveloped is performed so as to determine, on the basis of a signal received from the card carrier enveloped, whether a card is contained in the envelope.

Claims

1. A method of handling cards, the cards comprising a memory element that may be read out in a contactless manner via a transponder, and passing through a plurality of handling stations, the method comprising:

(a) bringing together and joining a card and a card carrier;

(b) inserting the card carrier into an envelope; and

(c) performing a reading operation with regard to the card carrier enveloped in step (b) so as to determine, on the basis of a signal received from the card carrier enveloped, whether a card is contained in the envelope.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein step (b) includes introducing the card carrier into an envelope.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the envelope comprises a window.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the envelope comprises a memory element that may be read out by a transponder.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein step (b) includes folding the card carrier and sealing same at its edges.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the card carrier comprises a memory element that may be read out by a transponder.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a first signal is generated in step (c) when a piece of information is read out from the card by the reading operation, and wherein a second signal is generated in step (c) when no information is read out from the card by the reading operation, the method further comprising:

(d) if the first signal is generated in step (c), passing on the enveloped card carrier to a subsequent station for handling same; and

(e) if the second signal is generated in step (c), removing the enveloped card carrier from the handling process.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein in step (c), predetermined information is read from the memory element, the method further comprising:

(d) comparing the information read out in step (c) with corresponding information associated with the card carrier;

(e) if the information compared in step (d) matches, passing on the enveloped card carrier to a subsequent station for handling same; and

(f) if the information compared in step (d) does not match, removing the enveloped card carrier from the handling process.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the information associated with the card carrier is detected from the envelope or from the card carrier.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein, by means of optical detection, the information is detected from the envelope or from the card carrier through the window in the envelope.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the information to be compared includes address information detected by an OCR read.

12. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the information relating to the card carrier is obtained from a database.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein additional information is stored which indicates which cards have been inserted into envelopes.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein a report about the cards which have been inserted into envelopes is created on the basis of the additional information.

15. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein in step (c), predetermined information is additionally read from the memory element, the method further comprising:

providing the information read, and

printing the information provided onto the envelope or onto the card carrier which has been folded and sealed.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the information provided includes the address information required for shipment, other information associated with the recipient, or predetermined advertising information.

17. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the information provided is stored on the card, or wherein the predetermined information includes an identification mark of the card with which a database, wherein the information is stored, is accessed.

18. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the card is a plastic card.

19. An apparatus for handling cards with a plurality of handling stations that the cards pass through, the cards comprising a memory element which may be read out in a contactless manner via a transponder, the apparatus comprising:

an applicator for bringing together, joining and outputting a card and a card carrier;

an inserter for inserting the card carrier into an envelope;

a reader for performing a reading operation with regard to the card carrier enveloped; and

a controller determining, on the basis of a signal received from the card carrier enveloped, whether a card is contained in the envelope.

20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the inserter includes an enveloping means for introducing the card carrier into an envelope.

21. The apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein the envelope comprises a window.

22. The apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein the envelope comprises a memory element that may be read out by a transponder.

23. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the inserter includes a folder and a sealer for folding the card carrier and sealing same at its edges.

24. The apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein the card carrier comprises a memory element that may be read out by a transponder.

25. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the controller generates a first signal when the reader receives a piece of information from the card and wherein the controller generates a second signal when the reader receives no information from the card,

the controller passing on the card carrier enveloped to a subsequent station for handling same in response to the first signal;

and

the controller removing the card carrier enveloped from the handling process in response to the second signal.

26. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the reader reads predetermined information from the memory element, the controller being operative to

compare the information read out with corresponding information associated with the card carrier;

pass on the card carrier enveloped to a subsequent station for handling same if the information compared matches; and

remove the card carrier enveloped from the handling process if the information compared does not match.

27. The apparatus as claimed in claim 26 comprising a detector for detecting the information associated with the card carrier from the envelope or the card carrier.

28. The apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein the detector is an optical detector reading the information from the envelope or from the card carrier through the window in the envelope.

29. The apparatus as claimed in claim 28, wherein the information to be compared includes address information, the optical detector being an OCR reader.

30. The apparatus as claimed in claim 27 with a database containing the information relating to the card carrier.

31. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the controller additionally stores information which indicates which cards have been inserted into envelopes.

32. The apparatus as claimed in claim 31, wherein the controller generates a report about the cards inserted into envelopes on the basis of the additional information.

33. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the reader further reads predetermined information from the memory element, the apparatus further including a printer for printing information on the envelope or the card carrier which have been folded and sealed.

34. The apparatus as claimed in claim 33, wherein the information provided includes the address information required for shipment, other information associated with the recipient, or predetermined advertising information.

35. The apparatus as claimed in claim 33, wherein the information provided is stored on the card, or wherein the predetermined information includes an identification mark of the card with which a database, wherein the information is stored, is accessed.

36. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the card is a plastic card.